Tracing protector for drafting tables



Jan. 18, 1955 J. w. MATTHEWS, JR 2,699,627

TRACING PROTECTOR FOR DRAFTING TABLES Filed NOV. 14, 1952 INVENTOR United States Patent TRACING PROTECTOR FOR DRAFTING TABLES John W. Matthews, J12, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application November 14, 1952, Serial No. 320,634

1 Claim. (Cl. 45--131) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, for all governmental purposes, throughout the world, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a tracing protector for a drafting table and has among its objects the provision of such a device which affords protection to long, cumbersome tracings, such as are used in the drafting process, from tearing, creasing, and soiling and to allow the draftsman freedom of movement during the drafting operation.

In general, the invention provides a hollow tube having a longitudinal slot in the wall thereof, and having also a flange fixed to one longitudinal edge of said slot and pro jecting outwardly of and substantially tangentially to said wall. Means are also provided for mounting said tube near the top of a drafting table with the slot and flange facing towards the table, thereby being positioned for operation to receive and protect tracings as they are moved over the edge of the table and into the slot. Means are also provided for maintaining the tube in this position, that is, for preventing the tube from rotating, this means also being operable to permit rotation of the tube about its longitudinal axis.

In the annexed drawing Figure 1 is a tri-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention attached to a drafting table and in position for operation;

Figure 2 is a tri-dimensional view of the tube of Figure 1 shown in the reverse position; and

Figure 3 is a view along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the tracing protector provides a hollow tube 11 having a longitudinal, rectangularshaped slot 12 in and extending completely through wall 13 of the tube and a flange 14 fixed to one longitudinal edge of the slot and projecting outwardly of, and sub stantially tangentially to, the wall. This slot and flange 2,699,627 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 ice may be readily formed by slitting the tube longitudinally and for short distances transversely at the ends of the longitudinal slit and then bending the thus-formed flange outwardly and substantially tangentially to the wall.

Means are also provided for mounting the tube 11 near the top of drafting table 15 with the slot and integral flange facing towards and substantially flush with the top thereof, thereby positioning the tube for operation to receive and protect a tracing 16 as it moves over the edge of the table and into the slot wherein it curls and assumes the shape of the tube. Such means are associated with each end of the tube and are similar and therefore the structure at only one end of the tube will be described in detail. This means includes a clamping plate 17 integrally fixed, as by soldering, at the end of tube 11, and having a threaded opening axial with the tube. A mounting bracket 18 fixed to table 15, as by screws 19, and having a central opening matching the opening of the plate 17biserves to hold and support the tube in position on the ta e.

Means are also provided for maintaining the tube in operative position, that is, for preventing the tube from rotating while in such position, this means being also operable to permit rotation of the tube about its longi tudinal axis when so desired, as for example, for the purpose of cleaning it. Such means are, for example, a knurled screw 29 adapted to engage the threaded center of plate 17 which, when tightened will prevent the tube from rotating and also hold the tube on the mounting bracket, and which, when loosened, will permit the tube to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

1 claim:

A tracing protector comprising a hollow tube having a longitudinal slot in and extending compietely through its wall, and having a flange fixed to one longitudinal edge of the slot and projecting outwardly of, and substantially tangentially to, the said wall, means for mounting said tube near the top of a drafting table with the slot and flange facing towards the table, thereby being positioned for operation to receive and protect tracings as they are moved over the edge of the table and into the slot, and means for maintaining the tube in this operative position, said last-named means also being operable to permit rotation of the tube about its longitudinal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,901 Grand June 22, 1915 2,174,660 Hirsch Oct. 3, 1939 2,603,908 Schwefel July 22, 1952 2,627,696 Wood Feb. 10, 1953 

